BROOK PARK, Ohio — The Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Cleveland Browns, made their pitch to the team's fans for a new domed stadium in Brook Park in a letter featuring renderings and videos released on Wednesday.
With the lease on Cleveland Browns Stadium set to expire in 2028, team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam announced earlier this year that they are down to two options when it comes to their future stadium site: a $1 billion renovation to the existing downtown stadium, or a domed stadium outside of the city at double the cost.
Just days after the city put forth a $461 million financing plan to help renovate Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Haslam Sports Group stated that "the more we have explored the Brook Park option, the more attractive it has become."
The letter, written by Dave Jenkins of the Haslam Sports Group, referred the idea of building $2.4 billion dome in Brook Park as a "transformational option" that will create "a modern, dynamic, world-class venue that would greatly enhance the fan experience and enable the State of Ohio and our region to compete for some of the biggest events in the world 365 days a year. Similar to other markets in the Midwest, this proposed domed stadium would catalyze our region in a major way."
Along with the letter, the Haslam Sports Group presented renderings of their vision for the domed stadium.
The 'Vision'
In addition, the presentation to the fans included a nearly three-minute video.
"While significant work remains, the more we have explored the Brook Park option, the more attractive it has become, and we are excited to share the current vision with you," wrote Jenkins. You can watch the team's video below:
The vision presented in the video includes the dome hosting blockbuster concerts, wrestling events (think WWE WrestleMania), the Final Four, and more.
Outside of the dome, planners envision a community around the stadium with restaurants, shopping, hotels, and a Public Square-like space that can be used for everything from outdoor concerts to holiday festivals.
"As we've begun to share this Brook Park dome vision with elected officials, fans and business and civic leaders, we've received overwhelmingly positive feedback," Jenkins added. "We have also learned through every conversation and understand there is more input to be gathered and still significant work to be done."
How to pay for the dome
The Haslam Sports Group emphasized that the project would be both a "public-private partnership" as well as one that goes beyond just being a stadium. In addition, the Browns owners stated that they are not looking to "tap into existing taxpayer-funded streams, which could divert resources from pressing needs."
According to the letter, the Haslams would pay for $1.2 billion of the $2.4 billion estimated price tag for the facility. That figure would not include the "approximately $1 billion privately funded phased development we are envisioning, which would also be tremendously impactful for our region."
"As demonstrated in other markets, a project of this magnitude only realistically works through a public-private partnership. We have approached this as a 50-50 partnership on the stadium, excluding cost overruns, which we would cover," Jenkins explained, adding that the "proposed $1.2 billion+ private investment in the stadium is unprecedented and would be the largest private per capita stadium investment ever in this country."
Instead of "tapping into existing taxpayer-funded streams," the Haslams say they are working on "innovative funding mechanisms with local, county, and state officials that would leverage the fiscal impact of the project and the unprecedented private contribution to support the public investment and generate a substantial return for Brook Park, Cuyahoga County, and the State of Ohio. While still in progress, our funding model also contemplates setting aside future dollars generated by the project for stadium repairs and maintenance to help ensure long-term sustainability of the building well beyond the initial lease term."
Why Brook Park?
Earlier this year, the Haslams announced that they have an option to purchase 176 acres of land in Brook Park near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Brook Park City Council has already given its support to a proposed domed stadium, believing the land, once the property of Ford, can also become a "mixed-use entertainment district, potentially attracting visitors from across the region and the nation."
"The Brook Park site is the most compelling option for a dome for several reasons: its central location for our regional fan base, its proximity to downtown, the RTA and the airport, and its strong existing infrastructure," Jenkins noted. "The large footprint is also ripe for major economic development and supports ample parking and optimized ingress/egress for our visitors. Our diligence of the site is ongoing, but our work to date has shown positive results on the FAA, environmental and traffic/infrastructure fronts."
The Haslam Sports Group says it considered other locations for a future dome stadium, including Burke Lakefront Airport, "which we have determined with the City of Cleveland is not feasible."
Due to both economic constraints and FAA restrictions, the Haslam Sports Group says it cannot put a dome on Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The renovation option
Last week, in what the city called "a competitive deal to retain the Cleveland Browns at their current stadium site," Mayor Justin Bibb put forth a $461 million financing proposal to the Haslams to renovate the 25-year-old facility. The plan includes a 30-year lease arrangement and is highlighted by the following:
- $367 million ($227 million from increases in admission tax revenues, $120 million from Cuyahoga County sin tax revenues, and $20 million in existing stadium capital reserves) over the 30-year lease term, with a five-year renewal option.
- The city will turn the Willard Garage and the Muni Lot over to the Browns for their exclusive use on game days and event days. Parking revenues are expected to generate $94 million for capital repairs and improvements.
- Under the current lease, the city covers $1.3 million in annual property taxes and insurance, while the Browns pay $250,000 in rent. Under the proposed new lease, rent will be waived for the Browns, but they will assume responsibility for the insurance and tax payments. This adjustment aligns with the lease agreements held by the Guardians and Cavs, making it consistent across sports franchises in Cleveland.
Bibb says the $461 million investment by the city would not impact its services and does not include "pending County and State commitment."
In a letter to the Haslams, Bibb said his administration has "worked earnestly" with the Browns owners to "support their vision for a world-class home." He requested that the Haslams provide a response to the city's proposal by Aug. 12.
In their letter Wednesday, the Haslam Sports Group said it was "currently evaluating the City's proposal and have requested additional information from the City to enable us to comprehensively do so."
"We do not take the stadium decision lightly, and have been working diligently with city, county and state officials to consider all opportunities. We need to be bold, we need to be innovative, and we need to take advantage of this unique moment to create a transformational project not only for our fans, but for Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio region and the State of Ohio," Jenkins wrote.
'Maximizing' the waterfront
In closing the letter, the Haslam Sports Group also emphasized that it plans to continue to work with the city of Cleveland on the key point of the developing the downtown waterfront area, even if there is no longer a stadium there.
"While we are excited about the possibility of building a dome and surrounding development in Brook Park, the City of Cleveland and the success of its downtown remain incredibly important to us. We acknowledge that a move to Brook Park may have a near-term impact on downtown, but we believe that the year-round activity of a domed stadium can still positively impact the downtown economy, particularly when coupled with the possibilities of a reimagined lakefront absent the stadium," Jenkins wrote.
The Haslams helped reignite discussions of that reimagined lakefront back in 2021, when it first unveiled designs for a park-like land bridge from Mall C, over State Route 2 and the railroad tracks, to the lakefront. The proposal called for a combination of private and public money to help pay for its funding, which was estimated to cost $230 million.
On Monday, planners unveiled updated renderings of Cleveland's North Coast Master Plan and the land bridge, now known as the North Coast Connector. For now, Cleveland Browns Stadium remains on those renderings.
"Developing the lakefront without the stadium could be the best way to maximize the long-term success of our underutilized North Coast waterfront asset. We continue to have dialogue with the City regarding the optimal use of the lakefront, and will remain engaged on this critical priority regardless of where the stadium is. We will also keep working with our public partners in earnest so that the stadium solution is a long-term win for everyone, including the City of Cleveland," the Haslam Sports Group added.
"Regardless if the Browns stay or not, we will remake our lakefront once and for all," Bibb told the gathering at the "Lakefront Future Forum."
Previous Reporting:
- Latest version of Cleveland's North Coast Master Plan features 'reassigned' Shoreway amid uncertainty about Browns future on lakefront
- City of Cleveland announces $461 million funding plan to renovate Browns Stadium, asks team owners to respond by Aug. 12
- Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam say stadium options are $1B renovation or new $2B dome outside city